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2 Easy Ways to Underline Text in CSS and HTML Download Article A user-friendly guide to underlining text with codes Co-authored by Christopher Batchelor and Rain Kengly
Last Updated: January 5, 2024 Tested
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Using HTML (Deprecated)
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This article was co-authored by Christopher Batchelor and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Christopher Batchelor is a wikiHow community member and technology enthusiast. He has experience using a range of different platforms and software, and likes to keep up with updates and new features. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 219,297 times.
Do you want to use the underline tag in HTML? In the past, the HTML code for underlining text was the simple <u></u> tag. However, this method has been abandoned in favor of the much more versatile CSS "text-decoration" style property. Using CSS ensures your code stays future-proof. This wikiHow will show you how to underline text in CSS using the current "text-decoration" method, as well as the past deprecated method of HTML.
Things You Should Know
The <u> tag is deprecated, meaning it technically works, but it's not recommended to use.
When using CSS, use the "text-decoration" CSS style property to underline text.
While underlining takes only a few steps, consider other methods for emphasizing text. Underlining may confuse your readers.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Using CSS
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1 Use the "text-decoration" CSS style property. The Text-decoration property sets the appearance of decorative lines on text in CSS.[1]XResearch source
Text-decoration is shorthand for text-decoration-line, text-decoration-color, text-decoration-style, and text-decoration-thickness.
In older versions of HTML, this element used to be known as the "Underline" element. Using the <u> tag is deprecated, meaning it is still allowed but not recommended to use.
Using the "text-decoration" property is a newer, better alternative to underlining.
You can use Windows Notepad to create a simple CSS stylesheet.
2 Use the <span> tag when you want to underline a certain piece of text. Place the opening tag along with the "text-decoration" property where you want to start underlining. Place the closing </span> where you want it to stop.[2]XResearch source<spanstyle="text-decoration: underline;">This will be underlined.</span> Advertisement
3 Declare HTML elements in the <style> section of your page. You can also do this on the CSS style sheet. You can make the underlining process much easier by declaring HTML elements to style. For example, to make all of your level 3 headers underlined, add the following to your CSS style section: <html><head><style>h3{text-decoration:underline;}</style></head><body><h3>This header will be underlined</h3></body></html>
4 Define a CSS Class Style. You'll be able to quickly underline at any time. In your style sheet or <style> section, you can create classes to call later. The class can have any name you'd like. <html><head><style>.underline{text-decoration:underline;}</style></head><body> You can use this class to <divclass="underline">quickly underline</div> different parts <divclass="underline">of your content</div></body></html>
5 Consider other methods for highlighting text. Underlining should be avoided to keep from confusing your reader. One popular method is to use the <em> tag, which italicizes text. You can use CSS to further define this tag for unique emphasis. <html><head><style>em{color:red;}</style></head><body> Anything that uses the em element will be <em>italicized (because of the default settings), as well as red</em> because of the additional style settings added above. </body></html>
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Using HTML (Deprecated)
Download Article
1 Avoid using the old <u></u> tags. This has been "deprecated", which means it works but is no longer in use or recommended. This is because HTML is not designed to style content. The <u> tag will still work, but it is now supposed to represent text that is different than the other text, such as misspelled words.
2 Use the <u></u> tags to underline (demonstration only). There is virtually no case where you should be using this method anymore. However, it can be good to know how it was used in the event you have to update an old website. <html><body> The old underline tag in HTML <u>allowed you to underline things quickly</u>, but it made things a mess when other style elements got involved. This is why modern underlining is accomplished using the "text-decoration" CSS element. </body></html>
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Question What is the CSS to underline heading image on a web page? Community Answer You'll first need to ID your image in your HTML file, then go to your CSS file, call your ID, and in the brackets, say 'text-decoration: underline;' . Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 4
Question Why is the image not showing on my mobile phone while creating an HTML file? Techdocgeek Community Answer There are many potential reasons, check that you have the correct image file path for the image. If the image shows on a computer but not a mobile phone, check if the style sheet has different rules for images on mobile devices. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
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There are always new ways to emphasize a content on a webpage other than underlining. Consider sprucing up your text with other CSS elements. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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CB Co-authored by: Christopher Batchelor Tech Enthusiast This article was co-authored by Christopher Batchelor and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Christopher Batchelor is a wikiHow community member and technology enthusiast. He has experience using a range of different platforms and software, and likes to keep up with updates and new features. This article has been viewed 219,297 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 12Updated: January 5, 2024 Views: 219,297 Categories: HTMLArticle SummaryX
1. Open your code for editing. 2. Scroll to the text to be underlined. 3. Insert the SPAN tag before and after the text. 4. Use the "text-decoration: underline" style. 5. Define the style in your CSS. 6. Save your document. Did this summary help you?YesNo
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"The alternate suggestions (along with the proper way to code it) helped."
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Download Article A user-friendly guide to underlining text with codes Co-authored by Christopher Batchelor and Rain Kengly 
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1 Use the "text-decoration" CSS style property. The Text-decoration property sets the appearance of decorative lines on text in CSS.[1] 
2 Use the <span> tag when you want to underline a certain piece of text. Place the opening tag along with the "text-decoration" property where you want to start underlining. Place the closing </span> where you want it to stop.[2] <span style="text-decoration: underline;">This will be underlined.</span> Advertisement 
3 Declare HTML elements in the <style> section of your page. You can also do this on the CSS style sheet. You can make the underlining process much easier by declaring HTML elements to style. For example, to make all of your level 3 headers underlined, add the following to your CSS style section: <html> <head> <style> h3 { text-decoration: underline; } </style> </head> <body> <h3>This header will be underlined</h3> </body> </html> 
4 Define a CSS Class Style. You'll be able to quickly underline at any time. In your style sheet or <style> section, you can create classes to call later. The class can have any name you'd like. <html> <head> <style> .underline { text-decoration: underline; } </style> </head> <body> You can use this class to <div class="underline">quickly underline</div> different parts <div class="underline">of your content</div> </body> </html> 
5 Consider other methods for highlighting text. Underlining should be avoided to keep from confusing your reader. One popular method is to use the <em> tag, which italicizes text. You can use CSS to further define this tag for unique emphasis. <html> <head> <style> em { color: red; } </style> </head> <body> Anything that uses the em element will be <em>italicized (because of the default settings), as well as red</em> because of the additional style settings added above. </body> </html> Advertisement 
1 Avoid using the old <u></u> tags. This has been "deprecated", which means it works but is no longer in use or recommended. This is because HTML is not designed to style content. The <u> tag will still work, but it is now supposed to represent text that is different than the other text, such as misspelled words. 
2 Use the <u></u> tags to underline (demonstration only). There is virtually no case where you should be using this method anymore. However, it can be good to know how it was used in the event you have to update an old website. <html> <body> The old underline tag in HTML <u>allowed you to underline things quickly</u>, but it made things a mess when other style elements got involved. This is why modern underlining is accomplished using the "text-decoration" CSS element. </body> </html> Advertisement 
Community Answer You'll first need to ID your image in your HTML file, then go to your CSS file, call your ID, and in the brackets, say 'text-decoration: underline;' . Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 4 
Techdocgeek Community Answer There are many potential reasons, check that you have the correct image file path for the image. If the image shows on a computer but not a mobile phone, check if the style sheet has different rules for images on mobile devices. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2 
Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. CB Co-authored by: Christopher Batchelor Tech Enthusiast Click a star to vote Co-authors: 12 Updated: January 5, 2024 Views: 219,297